(Topeka, Kansas) – Today the Board of Regents appointed 20 individuals to assist and advise the Board in the selection of the next President of Fort Hays State University. The search committee includes representation from university students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the wider Hays community. The Board named Jeffrey D. Peier of Wichita, who currently serves as chair of the Fort Hays State University Foundation Board of Trustees and is a Managing Member of the law firm Klenda Austerman LLC, to chair the committee.

“The Board of Regents has assembled an incredibly talented Search Committee representing Fort Hays State University’s administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners,” stated Jeffrey Peier, chair of the Presidential Search Committee. “I am extremely confident that this diverse Search Committee will be successful in presenting the Board of Regents with a slate of highly qualified candidates from which the Board will select the next leader of Fort Hays State University.”

The Board also approved the hiring of the search firm Wheless Partners to assist with identifying and recruiting potential candidates for the position of President. Over the next several weeks, Wheless Partners will visit with members of the Fort Hays State University community to better understand what attributes and characteristics will be desired in the next President.

In addition to approving the committee’s membership, the Board also approved a formal charge which instructs the search committee to identify “three to five candidates who are the most qualified for Board selection as President of Fort Hays State University.” Click here to review the full charge.